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Cruz Azul ease into final - Cruz Azul have set up a meeting with Club America in theClausura final after a2-1 home...

Jan 5, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Brooks Reed (58) sits on the bench during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Texans coach Wade Phillips unleashed a secret last week that linebacker Brooks Reed underwent surgery to repair a groin injury in January. What most of us weren’t expecting, was for Reed to be so close to 100 per cent just as OTA’s are about to begin. Dave Zangaro of CSN Houston reported earlier today that Reed’s injury was sustained during Thanksgiving last year, and that he has had “a lot of time to recover”. The news is good since the Texans struggled last season at linebacker, and may also see Brian Cushing finally return fit and healthy. The Texans defense now looks to be taking shape following the draft. Two big returns, and the edition of Sam Montgomery and Trevardo Williams at the same position add a lot of extra depth. There should be some big battles at training camp for starting spots.

Cruz Azul ease into final: Cruz Azul have set up a meeting with Club America in the Clausura final after a 2-1...

If this whole coaching thing doesn't work out, Frank Vogel probably has future in fight promotion.

I wrote this for Blue Man Hoop, Fansided's warriors blog, but I'd like to hear spurs fans opinions of this analysis. If the images/video dont upload correctly, this, along with my other writing, is up at joemoore.net. Thanks. Spurs Baseline Drive/Drift Hammer Sets (via How U) Game after game, year after year, the San Antonio Spurs exercise their calculated, methodical genius. Possession after possession, play after play, the Spurs pass, cut, screen, and penetrate their way through the opponents’ defense, and though the defense resists, the Spurs almost inevitably find their shot. "The hammer", the set shown above, represents many of the principles of San Antonio’s offense. While San Antonio’s system whittles away at a defense, it is the aptly named "hammer" that often drives the final nail. San Antonio’s hammer sets, as the video shows, generally involve off and on ball movement prior to this point, but the first key step is what appears to be a high screen. San Antonio knows that many defenses attempt to prevent the ball handler from using the screen. In accordance with the set, San Antonio has cleared the middle of the floor, leaving an open lane for the ball-handler, in this case Cory Joseph, to drive. As the guard drives, the weak-side defensive big man is forced to step in to contest. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s big man sets a back screen on the defensive wing, usually a couple steps off his man in help position, while San Antonio’s shooter cuts to the corner, setting up an easy pass to a wide-open man for the best shot in basketball. While the specific play may have been used no more than a couple times against the Warriors, it displays the intelligence that couples with San Antonio’s talent to make the team as successful as it is. The Spurs account for the nuances of the opposing teams expected defense on the initial deceptive screen, and take advantage of help schemes with the back screen. The Warriors may have resisted San Antonio, riding their own hot shooting and San Antonio’s unexpected turnovers and inconsistent shooting to two victories, but a large part of the Warriors performance was simply unsustainable if the Warriors hoped to win. The Warriors presented an intriguing case, but not one that held up against San Antonio’s aggressive examination. From their own shooting to the Spurs’ struggles to convert on repeated open corner threes, among other opportunities, the Warriors could not maintain their performance, and were, like many teams before them, sentenced to death by San Antonio’s compassionless execution. Fortunately for the Warriors, the NBA death is not finite. The Warriors have next year, and an eternity after that, to build on this season. While a loss is never welcome, the San Antonio Spurs gave the Warriors a model on which they can base their aspirations. While the brilliance of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli may be responsible for much of San Antonio’s success, the Spurs have set the standard for player development and on court execution for several years. Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter, and Danny Green, recent products of San Antonio’s system were key in carrying out the Warriors’ sentence. The Spurs, at least more so than other teams, take advantage of their players’ talents, bringing success not just to the players but to the entire team, and apart from a few creative diversions from Manu Ginobli, the Spurs’ players generally stay within this system. The Warriors have a bright future, but as the Spurs have shown the last few years, success is not guaranteed. While loss is not always a learning experience, the Warriors could learn learn a lot from the Spurs. I wrote this for Blue Man Hoop, Fansided's warriors blog, but I'd like to hear spurs fans opinions of this analysis. If the images/video dont upload correctly, this, along with my other wr

Monday's here, the site is back running normally, and it's time for the Mailbag! Dave, Why did Chris Kaman's value drop so fast? Wasn't he an All star? (though he was replaced for B Roy's injury)I thought he was one of the better centers in the league when he was playing for the Clippers. In 2011-12 he was getting paid 14+Mil and it dropped to 8 in one year and now he is considered a retread. Sangwoo Injuries took mobility out of an offensive game that was already considered shaky. Kaman had good moments for the Clippers but he was never a guy you'd rely on, particularly defensively. As he struggled on offense he became something of a black hole, calling his value further into question. I agree that Kaman could still be of value as a minute-eater in the middle, kind of like your third starter in the rotation in baseball. He wont' take you to the next level but he might keep you from slipping through a shaky floor. Whether signing him is worth it depends on your aims and cash on hand. Dave, Everyone from Paul Allen to my kid nephew knows we need rim protection. All the talk has been center, center, center. I agree with this wholeheartedly. It should be our main target in the offseason. But I think a dynamic shooting guard is just as pressing of a need. Various articles I've read seem to think its going to be a one-or-the-other type of situation where we need to hit a homerun on either a big or a guard, with the nod generally going to the big. I don't think this is the case. Would adding a cheaper, less-proven center like along with an unpredictable scorer work? Andy Depends on what you mean by "work". The Blazers would do well to hit big with either a guard or center. Not all options are created equal, however. The differences between backcourt and pivot show up in how said player would be acquired, how much they'd cost, and what other moves the team would need to make. If the Blazers hit big at the center position they could call their off-season a success no matter what else happened. For our purposes, "hitting big" would mean the Blazers believe they've acquired a long-term starting-quality center, probably with defensive chops. Adding that guy to their Core Four would complete the starting lineup. They'd fill in with bench players around the edges, then use cap exceptions to add more next year. The problem is that these players are rare and, except for Dwight Howard, none are unrestricted free agents. The Blazers need cooperation to make this happen...a team willing to trade or unwilling to match an offer for their restricted free agent. Getting that center will cost Portland a current starter, their lottery pick, tons of money, or all of the above. The other problem with the center position is that the next tier down--guys good enough to start but not good enough to rely on or to solve all your problems long-term--will be darn near as expensive cap-wise. You could easily blow 60% of your cap space on a mediocre big man. The whole point of spending money on a center is being able to say your biggest holes are filled. If that doesn't happen you've just wasted that money even if the position reads "C" on the roster card. Mostly-dynamic shooting guards are more plentiful on the unrestricted free agent market, easier to acquire in general, and usually less expensive. The Blazers may not be able to hit big when measured against the Hardens and LeBrons of the world but given enough money they could hit big enough. They can also find reasonable bench options at the wing positions while preserving enough cap space to sign another player. The difference here is that the team could acquire the best free agent shooting guards on the market, spend a ton of money doing so, and still be staring at a gaping hole at center which must be filled somehow. I don't think the Blazers can enter next season with Meyers Leonard and Joel Freeland as their only options at center. That team will suffer no matt

METAIRIE -- Moss Point native Tom Johnson spent his first two seasons with the Saints securing his role as a contributor, a defensive tackle that could be relied on to…Click to Continue »

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny will address this year’s graduates at the 137th annual Boston College Commencement Exercises today. One such graduate is Boomer Esiason's son, Gunnar. A while back,... Full story at Bob's Blitz ~ http://www.bobsblitz.com

Amen to these words!

Battle of the Uniforms Championship: @Orioles vs. @Cardinals. #UNIBATTLE VOTE NOW: